Plan calls for lake housing

McDougal's proposal bucks reservoir policy

Lubbock City Councilman Marc McDougal has drafted a plan to allow residential development around Lake Alan Hen ry, breaking a longstanding policy that prohibits structures on the lake's watershed.

McDougal said his proposal would allow lake side homes to be built within the city's 300-foot easement around the lake.

Developers have snatched up much of the land surrounding the narrow, winding lake that sprawls for some 2,800 acres across parts of Garza and Kent counties. At least one real estate broker already is promoting spacious lake homes on exclusive lots with access to a golf course and airstrip.

McDougal sees the lake as a moneymaker for the city.

"We have an asset down there, and this would be one way to use that asset and offset the costs of operating the lake," he said.

But not everyone believes developing homes on the easement is a good idea.

The city obtained the easement years ago to safeguard water quality. Lake Alan Henry, completed in 1993, was im pounded as a future water supply for Lubbock. The city does not own the land within the easement, but it controls how the land is used.

"The 300-foot easement was the result of months and years of engineering planning," said Alan Henry, the former mayor involved with the lake's early development and recognized with the lake's naming. "There were many at the time who wanted an even wider easement."

The original feasibility study for Lake Alan Henry was completed in 1968, and the city ultimately entered an agreement with the Brazos River Authority to dam a fork of the river and build the reservoir.

Development was stalled for many years because the city did not originally obtain the mineral rights on the property that was to be flooded. By 1996, a Dallas businessman became the last major property holder who refused to sell to the city.

Bert Fields owned an oil well on property the city needed to fill the lake to capacity. Fields settled with the city in March, and interest in developing the lake increased.

"There's been a lot of interest," McDougal said. "A lot of developers have approached the city. I feel like we're at the point now where we need to let them know whether they can move forward or not."

Two developments already have begun: Rio Brazos Estates, which is owned by two investors from Snyder, and North Ridge, owned by two brothers, one in Slaton and the other in Houston.

At least 169 lots have been platted, ranging in size from two to eight acres.

"There's really a lot of interest in the property around the lake," said John T. Basinger, real estate broker for J. Martin Basinger Cos. of Slaton. "We've already closed on several lots, even with the easement restriction."

Basinger is marketing North Ridge. He said one lot owner has begun building on the 300-foot easement line, but others are waiting.

"It would be a lot nicer if we could build in that area," he said.

Under McDougal's plan, which he said he intends to present to the City Council later this month, the city would sell a permit for $1,000 that would allow residential development within the 300-foot easement. The permit would be issued for 30 years and must be renewed annually for $1,000.

McDougal said the city also would sell non-potable lake water to landowners at the same rate that Lubbock residents pay for tap water. The water would be drawn from a central pump house built by each developer, which would prevent each house from having a pipeline to the lake.

Only 1,000 acre-feet of water would be sold a year, and no water would be sold if the lake level dropped too low. An acre-foot is the amount of water that would cover an acre one foot deep. The city's permit from the state allows 35,000 acre-feet to be drawn from the lake annually.

McDougal said developers would be responsible for installing water, gas, electrical and other utility lines.

He also said individual docks would not be allowed. Each development would have its own boat ramps or docks.

Commercial development, such as a restaurant or marina, would require separate approval by the City Council, McDougal said.

Basinger said he has no objections to McDougal's proposal. He said prices for lake lots have ranged from $15,000 to $125,000, and deed restrictions would govern the size, architectural style and the quality of building materials for all homes. Mobile homes would not be allowed.

"We'd sure like to make development around the lake as nice and as pleasing to the eye as possible," he said.

McDougal, who is the president of McDougal Realtors, said his company has no stake in the development or sales of lots or homes around the lake. He said he is promoting the plan as a way to offset the lake's annual operating costs of $600,000.

"The first two developments alone would come pretty close to offsetting those costs almost immediately," he said.

But Henry said development along the lakeside would increase water treatment costs.

"It would increase pollution in the lake, and that would increase treatment costs proportionately," Henry said. "We should not trade our water supply for a bedroom city 60 miles away. That lake belongs to the people of Lubbock, and we should not do anything that would change its character."

Through bond debt, property acquisition, engineering and construction, Lubbock residents have spent about $65 million for the lake.

Interest in the lake as a recreational facility has grown, and Henry believes the lake should remain in its natural setting.

The city has developed a recreation area with boat docks, launch sites and a fishing pier, and future development plans include campsites, nature trails, picnic areas and pavilions. In 1996, fewer than 4,000 visitors used the lake, but last year the lake drew more than 34,000 visitors.

City officials are planning a 60-mile pipeline and a series of pumps to bring the water to Lubbock. The water supply is not expected to be needed for 30 years.